Lace-curtain stretcher.



P. J. DB V-RIES.

LACE CURTAIN STRETCHER.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 4. 1908 Patented Nov. 24, 1908,

pulleys.

PETER 1. DE VRIES, OF HULL, IOWA.

LACE-CURTAIN STRETGIIEB.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 24, 1908.

Application filed April 4, 1906. Serial No. 425,221.

To all whom it/may concern:

Be it known that I, PETER J. DE V RIES, a citizen of the United Stat-esof America, residing at Hull, in the county of Sioux and State of Iowa,have invented new and useful Improvements in Lace-Curtain Stretchers, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to lace curtain stretchers, and one of the princial objects of the same is to provide a simp e and ellicientstretchingframe which can be folded to occupy but little space when not in use.

Another object of the invention is to rovide a foldable stretching framein w ich the side rails of the frame are forced a art by means ofsprings and which are hel togethcr by means of chains or other suitablerigid connections.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a foldablestretching frame for curtains in which the side rails are held apart bymeans of springs connected thereto and chains for holdin the side railsiii adjusted positions and en bars mounted to slide on the side railsand provided with compensating cords and pulleys, whercbythe end barswill slide automatically with the side rails.

These and other objects may be attained by means of the constructionillustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which,

Figure 1 is a plan new of a curtain stretching frame made in accordancewith my invention. Fig. 2 is a detail side elevation of a portion of aframe and at one'corner thereof, and showing the manner of mounting theend bars upon the side rails, and showing the compensating cords andFig. 3 is a detail view of one of the hinges and the latch for one ofthe side rails. Fig. 4 is a similar] view taken on line 14, Fig. 1,showing the frame folded. Fig. 5 is a detail section taken on the line55 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction indicated by the arrow.

Referring to the drawing for a more specific description of myinvention, the numerals 1 designate the side rails, said rails beingmade in sections and divided centrally, said sections being connectedtogether by means of hinges 2 and provided with suitable latches 3 whichserve to hold the suitable intervals are the impaling pins 5,.

said pins being driven at an angle, as shown in Figs. 2 and 5. Connectedto each of the sections of the side rails 1 is a spring 6, two suchsprings being shown and comprisin oppositely disposed bars having acentre coil or coils 7, and said sprin s being disposed oppositely andthe bars 0? said springs eing arranged at an angle one to the other, thecoiled portions 7 of said springs exerting tension to straighten out thebars, so that there is a constant tendency on the part of the springs tomove the side rails apart. These springs are connected by means of eyes8 and suitable nails or pins 9'to the side rails. To limit the action ofthe springs 6 I utilize a chain or other ri id connection 9, one neareach end of the irame, said chain being detachable from a book 10 on oneof the side rails, while the other end of the chain is permanentlyconnected. Thus, when the side rails are spread as far as required, oneof the links of the chain 9 is connected with the hook 10 to preventfurther spreadin of the frame.

n order that the end bars 11 may move siinultaneousl with the side railsI have provided gni eways for said end bars, said guideways being shownas comprising rods 12 having downturned ends 13 secured to the siderails 1, as at 14, so positioned on the side rails as to permit theframe to be folded, more clearly shown in F i 4 of the drawing. The endbars 11 are a so provided with inclined pins 5 for connecting the lacecur tains thereto. A series of screw eyes 15 are connected to the outeredge of the bars 11, and secured to one of these eyes on each side arethe compensating cords 16, said cords passing over the ends of the si erails 1 and passing around pulleys 18 journaled underneath the rails 1,and from thence said cords are broughttogether and tied, as at 19. Bmeans of this arrangement of cords and pu leys when the side rails arebeing separated by means of the s rin 6, the end bars move toward theends 0 the side rails in an obvious manner. The side rails and .end barsmay be provided with inch marks 20 to facilitate the adjustment of theframe to given sizes of curtains.

The o)eration of m invention may be briefly escribed as fo lows:Curtains are connected to the impalin pins 5, excepting at the corners,and after t iey have been connected, the chains 9" are disconnected fromthe books 10, and the springs 6 are permitted ulleys 17, jonrnaled in tostretch the curtains sutficientl and then the chains are in connec withthe hooks 10. The end bars will separate or move simultaneously with themovement of the side rails, and hence the chains 9 serveas a limitingmeans for both the movements of the side rails and end bars. To fold upthe stretcher the side rails are brought together and are held in thisposltion by suitable latches. The side rails are then doubled in themiddle and the rails are held together by latches. ilhe end bars in themeantime have been withdrawn .and may be packed between the two siderails.

M invention is of simple construction, can folded for packing orshipping to occupy but a small space, is automatic in 'its action and isconvenient, reliable and eflicient.

Havin thus described the invention, what is claim as new, is

1. In a lace curtain stretcher, side rails, springs connected to saidside rails, said springs exerting their influence to separate saidrails, and means for limiting theaction of said springs.

2. In a lacecurtain stretcher, side rails,

normally means for t e action of said springs, and bars, and meanswhereby said end bars are moved outwardly automatically andsimultaneously with the outward movement 'ofthesideralla' 8. A lacecurtain stretcher comprising. side rails, springs connected to said siderails, said springs being oppositel disposed and comprising ar bars an acentral coil, the tendency of said springs being to separate the siderails, means for connect' the side rails to the action of said. springs,

segarating said side rails,

end bars mounted to slide on the side rails, and compensating cordsconnected to the end bars and passing over pulleys on the side rails andend bars, whereby said end bars move simultaneously with the side railsand automatically under the influence of said s rings.

4. lace curtain stretcher comprising side rails having pins thereon,springs connected to sand side rails, the tendency of said springs beingto separate said side rails, chains connected to one side rail anddetachabl connected to the other side rail to limit tlie action of saidsprings, end bars, guides therefor, pulleys mounted in the side railsand cords assing over said alleys and having their inner ends detachabcon nected together and their outer en 5 attached to said end bars.

' 5. A lace curtain stretcher comprising side rails having impaling pinsthereon, springs connected to said side rails, the tendency of saidsprings bein to separate said side rails, chains connec to one of saidside rails and detachabl connected to the other side rail 0 limit t eaction of said spri end bars, guides therefor connected to said siderails and so disposed as to permit the frame to be folded pulleysmounted in the side rails and cor s passing over'said ulleys and havintheir inner ends detac ably connecte together and their outer endsattached to said end bars.

In testimon whereof I aflix my signature in presence 0 two witnesses.

PETER J. DE VRIES.

Witnesses:

J. 0. WILSON, J. swims.

